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EPA, HUD and DOE Sign Joint Partnership to Promote ENERGY STAR in HUD Housing

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman and HUD Secretary Mel Martinez with DOE Assistant Secretary David Garman today signed a formal partnership to promote ENERGY STAR throughout HUD's affordable housing programs. These efforts to promote ENERGY STAR will not only improve the energy efficiency of the affordable housing stock, but will help protect the environment.

"President Bush directed the federal government to find ways to promote energy efficiency and conservation," said HUD Secretary Mel Martinez. "Today's agreement is a major step towards ensuring that our agencies work together to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing homes by promoting the use of Energy Star."

HUD Secretary Martinez, DOE Assistant Secretary David Garman, and EPA Administrator Christie Whitman create an ENERGY STAR partnership.

"EPA's Energy Star program provides government agencies, businesses, and consumers, with the opportunity to buy energy efficient products that conserve energy, save money, and protect the environment," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "We have seen the success that can be had when agencies come together with shared resources and knowledge to achieve our goals. I'm pleased to be here today with Secretary Martinez and Assistant Secretary Garman to solidify the commitment of EPA, HUD and the Department of Energy to work together towards achieving the goals of the President's National Energy Policy."

The agreement announced today commits the three agencies to working together to improve the energy efficiency of HUD's public, assisted and insured housing as well as housing financed through HUD's formula or competitive grant programs.

In accordance with the Bush Administration's National Energy Policy, the MOU identifies areas where EPA, DOE and HUD will coordinate resources and approaches to expand the use of ENERGY STAR -labeled products in HUD-financed housing, expand the number of ENERGY STAR -labeled new homes financed by HUD, and generally promote energy efficiency improvements in both new and existing HUD-financed housing.

Through this agreement, the three agencies will work together to promote the purchase of ENERGY STAR labeled appliances by the nation's housing authorities, and in HUD's inventory of privately-owned assisted housing. The agreement will also promote the construction of new ENERGY STAR-labeled homes through HUD programs. These efforts will include developing ENERGY STAR informational and promotional materials which can be distributed to field staff, public housing authorities, formula and competitive grant recipients and assisted housing property managers to help educate home buyers and homeowners on the benefits of purchasing ENERGY STAR products or of building energy-efficient new homes.

In addition, HUD, EPA and DOE will assist housing authorities to purchase ENERGY STAR-labeled products and implement strategies for new housing financed through HUD's HOPE VI program to achieve an ENERGY STAR designation.

In any single year, HUD assists more than five million renters and home owners through its various programs. This is approximately five percent of all housing. HUD spends an estimated $4 billion each year on energy on behalf of renters and home owners. EPA estimates that an individual apartment renter can save 15% to 20% with the installation of ENERGY STAR appliances such as refrigerators, window air-conditioners and lighting and other ENERGY STAR products. An ENERGY STAR labeled new home can save 30% or more on heating and cooling bills. This can be a savings of $200 to $400 a year.

The agreement will support the goals of the President's National Energy Policy, announced in 2001, by focusing on the market of the housing units assisted by HUD, including existing and new HOPE VI public housing developments, housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities, FHA-insured housing and HOME Investment Partnership Program developments. It will also help educate the 1.8 million holders of housing vouchers whose landlords also can take advantage of the efficiency of ENERGY STAR labeled products.

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency along with the Department of Energy. The ENERGY STAR label enables consumers to easily identify energy-efficient appliances, electronics, office equipment, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, buildings and new homes. Last year alone, Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved over $5 billion dollars on their energy bills while eliminating the pollution equivalent to that of 10 million cars. Get more information about ENERGY STAR on the Internet, or call 1-888-STAR-YES. You can read the full MOU here.

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